National Reference Centres (NRCs) and Reference Laboratories (NRLs) are responsible for monitoring food, feed, human and animal pathogens, genetically modified organisms and certain classes of substances such as residues in live animals and animal products, and pesticide residues in food and feed. NRLs and NRCs exist in all EU member states. They are the basis for Europe-wide, harmonized testing standards in the respective areas of official control of food and feed and in the area of animal health for the diagnosis of diseases.

The legal basis is EU Regulation (EC) 625/2017, which requires each Member State to designate and notify the European Commission of one or more NRLs for specific investigations. The NRL must be accredited as a testing laboratory for the investigation in question. The scope of an NRL may cover a specific class of substances (e.g. pesticide residues), a specific group of foodstuffs (e.g. milk and dairy products) or microorganisms pathogenic to humans and animals (e.g. salmonella, BSE) or parasites (e.g. trichinae).